Chinese Stealth Fighter

China has released official footage of its new stealth fighter, the J-36, marking its second known test flight and first appearance on state-run media. The aircraft, featuring a tailless flying-wing design for enhanced stealth, was seen flying solo over Chengdu, likely undergoing landing gear and aerodynamic testing. Its size and design suggest a multi-role platform, capable of carrying heavy internal payloads like long-range missiles or precision bombs—optimized for strike missions rather than dogfighting.

The timing coincides with Donald Trump’s announcement of the U.S. Air Force’s sixth-generation F-47 fighter under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, hinting at an intensifying race for aerial superiority. Analysts suggest the J-36 may be the first time since WWII that China has outpaced the U.S. in fielding a new generation of combat aircraft.

With a length of up to 85 feet and possibly powered by three engines, the J-36 is believed to be the largest combat aircraft China has ever developed, suited for long missions and operating in contested electronic warfare environments. Experts note its strategic value lies in launching stand-off attacks while avoiding detection—filling a critical role in China’s expanding airpower ambitions across the Indo-Pacific.

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